In Adrian Pavese’s 500th game as a coach, the Griffith Swans were looking to bring in up in style against Mangoplah CUE at Exies Oval on Saturday.
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Unfortunately, the visiting Goannas had other ideas and proved to be too good in the second half to winners 14.9 (93) to 9.10 (64).
The Swans held a narrow advantage at the first two breaks before MCUE broke the game open with a five-goal third term to lead by 16 points at the final change.
Griffith never went away but another five-goal quarter from the visitors ensured the longest road trip in the Riverina League proved a successful one for the Goannas.
Pavese was pleased with his side's effort in the game.
“We were pretty good all day we were just lacked a bit of polish,” he said.
“It’s back to the drawing board but we are getting better and that is the key.
“I said to the boys after the game as long as we can see we are on the right track it is eventually going to have to click because the hard work will get rewarded.”
The Swans were really put on the back foot thanks to a seven-goal haul from Mangoplah’s Jordan Foster while for the Swans Brent Arho kicked five.
It was polish in the forward fifty which let the Swans down as they had a chance in the final term to make an impact.
“We talked about scoreboard pressure and I think in the last quarter we had the first three shots on goal, very kickable and we missed everyone,” he said.
“They went straight out and put one on the board and that is the disappointing part that we couldn't capitalise on the hard work.”
Despite Foster’s haul, Pavese was pleased with his side's application in defence.
“I thought we scrapped really well and I think our defensive running is going really well which is an area we have been trying to focus on,” he said.
“I loved the fact they were still getting that instinctive play going it just at times we went back into some old habits and that cost us a few goals.”
Pavese finished by praising the performance of his younger boys in Jacob Conlan, Jacob Barrington and Lucas Conlan.